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| Seen is an illustration of Hyundai Motor Group's electric vehicle (EV) charging station, provided by the group, Tuesday. The automotive group said it will run its EV charging station business under the brand E-pit. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group |
By Baek Byung-yeul
Hyundai Motor Group is jumping into the electric vehicle (EV) charging station business here, unveiling its new brand E-pit, Tuesday.
The group said it will set up 20 E-pit EV charging stations with ultra-fast chargers across the country this year. Inspired by the pit stops of the Formula One racing event, which involve brief pauses for refueling, repairs and changing tires, its E-pit is designed to offer fast, easy, convenient and premium services to customers.
"At E-pit stations, owners of Hyundai Motor Group's EVs with 800-volt charging capabilities can charge their vehicles to 80 percent within 18 minutes. By charging their vehicles for only five minutes they also can drive about 100 kilometers," the company said.
Hyundai said 12 E-pit stations with a total of 72 EV chargers will be established at 12 highway rest stops in April, and eight stations, with a total of 48 chargers, will also be set up in urban centers across the nation.
To enhance user convenience, the automotive group will introduce a digital payment service so that drivers don't need to go through complex confirmation processes, and so they can pay the recharging fees automatically via a mobile app.
Having enough EV charging stations has become an urgent need for Korea, where more than 60 percent of households reside in apartment units. Hyundai is also actively shifting its business model toward EVs from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
Hyundai Motor, a key affiliate of the group, recently introduced its latest EV model, the IONIQ 5, while its co-affiliate Kia is also slated to roll out the EV6 in the second half of this year. The group's Genesis luxury brand is also scheduled to launch its first EV-only model, the Genesis JW, within this year.
To nurture the ecosystem for the EV industry, Hyundai will cooperate with EV charging service providers. With the growing demand for EVs, EV charging is regarded as a new business opportunity.
Oil refiner GS Caltex already launched its own EV charging station brand Energy Plus Hub, to offer not only gas pumps and car maintenance, but also recharging for EVs and hydrogen cars.
